::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

(TSN): Presidential candidates have prepped for the verbal throwdown that will help voters decide who they choose to run the country very differently. Vice Pres. Harris stayed in Pittsburgh for days to prepare while Donald Trump participated in interviews and event in the lead up to their first sparring match. Their first critical presidential debate in the race for the White House airs on ABC on Tuesday, Sept. 10. Mics will be muted on one candidate while the other is speaking. Held for 90 minutes just blocks away from Independence Hall at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, the debate will be moderated by ABC's David Muir and Linsey Davis. Both campaigns have their own issues with ABC Network. The Harris campaign asked for the rule to be changed to unmute the mics and says the format has “fundamentally disadvantaged” the vice president. Trump says ABC us the "nastiest" of all the networks and has accused them of harming his name. The network did not ...

The renowned WAYMAKER men's summit, the nation's largest empowerment conference for Black men, is set to return to  Chicago  on  September 6th  and 7th. This year's summit promises an unparalleled experience of growth, connection, and inspiration under the theme "Competing Against Yourself for Growth". Louis Carr,  Louis Carr , founder of the WayMaker Men's Summit, remarks: "The WayMaker Men's Summit challenges Black men to compete against their own potential for growth. By bringing together influential voices and motivated attendees, we're creating a platform where our community can connect, learn, and emerge as tomorrow's leaders. Our vision extends beyond this event – we're inspiring change that will impact families, communities, and future generations." Hosted at the Convene conference center in the iconic  Willis Tower , the summit offers a plethora of speaker sessions and experiences.  Key highlights of the summit include: An im...

  The ABFF Comedy Show Returns, Hosted by  Abbott Elementary’s  Janelle James LOS ANGELES, CA  – The American Black Film Festival (ABFF)  has announced its 2024 Talks Series lineup, featuring conversations and panels with industry leading directors, producers, and talent, including Nia Long, Meagan Good, and more. The 28th annual ABFF will take place in Miami Beach June 12-16 and will be available to a global audience June 17 – 24 on ABFF PLAY ( https://abffplay.com/ ). In addition, the ABFF Comedy Show will be returning this year on Friday evening, June 14 with host Janelle James from ABC’s “Abbott Elementary.” Emerging stand-up comedians Alfred Kainga, Anthony Oakes, Apple Brown Betty, Mason King, and Rashaun Reese will take the 2024 ABFF Comedy Show stage to bring an evening full of laughter. “We are thrilled to announce a robust lineup of conversations from industry leading professionals across film, television, music, and more,” said NICE CROWD President Ni...

Central City Productions is  taking their gospel award show, The Stellars back to the Las Vegar strip this year.   (CHICAGO, IL) May 11, 2023   -  Central City Productions  today announced the nominees in 25 categories for the  38th   Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards  taping on  Saturday, July 15 , returning to the  Las Vegas Orleans Arena . The 38th edition of the Stellar Awards will premiere on the newly-launched  Stellar TV  between  Monday, July 24  and  August 6, 2023 , as well as air in  national broadcast syndication from August 7 through September 10, 2023 . Gospel music’s most epic celebration is co-hosted this year by Gospel superstars and multiple Stellar Award winners  Tasha Cobbs-Leonard  and  Jonathan McReynolds , who returns to share co-hosting duties for the 2nd year.  Don Jackson , Founder of the Stellar Awards and Chairman of Central City Productions, In...

(SILVER SPRING, MD) – On Friday, December 2nd, Urban One taped the 5th annual  URBAN ONE HONORS  in Atlanta, GA. The two-hour telecast will premiere on Monday, January 16, 2023, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, on TV One and CLEO TV, a division of Urban One, and will be hosted by R&B singer and actor, Tank. The televised event heralds the accomplishments of individuals who have made extraordinary contributions in entertainment, media, music, politics, education, and the community.   Under the theme, celebrating "Icons of the Culture,” this year’s honoree class recognized an esteemed group of individuals. Honorees are Entertainment Icon Honor, 2x GRAMMY and NAACP Image Award winner, LL Cool J, the first ever Phoenix Honor to award-winning entertainer, philanthropist, and entrepreneur Bobby Brown, Inspirational Impact Honor, NAACP Image Award winner David Mann and his wife, GRAMMY Award winner, Tamela Mann (TV...

The   2021“BET Hip Hop Awards”  will return to Cobb Energy Center in Atlanta, GA, on Friday, October 1, with the  broadcast premiere airing Tuesday, October 5, at 9 PM ET/PT on BET.  The annual celebration will bring together the hottest names in hip hop to pay homage to the best in hip hop culture. The   BET “Hip Hop Awards”   reigns as one of the   top three   cable award shows for Black viewers of 2021 (BET Awards (#1), NAACP Image Awards (#2) and BET Hip Hop Awards (#3)* and ranks in the   Top 10  for most social cable awards show in 2020. The official 2021 “ BET Hip Hop Awards ” nominations, selected by a voting academy of esteemed music industry insiders, performers and presenters are to be announced at a later date. BETwill work closely with Fulton County to support community vaccination efforts and ensure adherence to COVID-19 protocols. “Hip hop is a global movement that embraces the diversity of expression and reflects what is ...

2RICKEY SMILEY TO HOST  1st ANNUAL SUPER BOWL GOSPEL CELEBRATION  (ATLANTA) - January 22, 2020  - Returning to  BET Networks  for the seventh consecutive year on  Saturday, February 1, 2020 , the  21st Annual  Super Bowl Gospel Celebration  will be hosted by national radio and TV personality  Rickey Smiley .  The annual NFL-Sanctioned event will film in front of a live audience during Super Bowl LIV week on Thursday, January 30, 2020 at the  James L. Knight Center  and  premiere exclusively on BET Networks on  Saturday, February 1, 2020, at 8:00 PM ET/PT. The one-hour special will feature performances by the  NFL Players Choir , a reunion of the  legendary group  Commissioned, Donnie McClurkin, Travis Greene  and BET's  Sunday Best  winners  Le'Andria Johnson  (Season 3) and  Melvin Crispell III  (Season 9).  During the program...

Donald Lawrence Presents the Tri-City Singers leaders the list of Stellar Award nominees in 9 categories, followed by Kirk Franklin with 8 and Tasha Cobbs tied with 8 and JJ Hairston with 7. Bishop Paul S. Morton and the Full Gospel Choir and Kurt Carr go head to head in the best choir category with Central City Productions has announced the top nominees in traditional, contemporary and Christian Hip Hop genres on Tuesday . The ceremony takes place once again in Las Vegas on March 27, 2020. Jonathan McReynolds and Koryn Hawthorne, both past multi-Stellar Award winners will co-host the show. In addition to celebrating the year’s best album releases, Central City CEO Don Jackson will bestow special honors upon Gospel greats who have elevated the genre. This year’s James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award will honor none other than the iconic Clark Sisters - Karen Clark Sheard, Dorinda Clark Cole, Twinkie Clark and Jacky Clark Chisholm -- who hold a collective fifteen Stell...